Big thanks to dldb. I hadn't realized so much time had passed since I'd updated Boomerang, lol. So, I cranked this out for you all real quick. Hope you guys like it, let me know! This one will be coming to an end shortly...I've got 2 more actual chapters and an epilogue planned. But, that could always change, you never know until you write it! :-)

Greenwich, Connecticut

Hunter sat on the couch in the living room at his house. It was killing him to know that Stephanie was so close, yet so far. It had been 3 days since he showed up at her house unannounced. He didn't want to scare her by showing up again. But, that wasn't the word he was looking for. It was more like he didn't want to force her to be around him. So he'd called her from a blocked number a few times the next day. He was worried that she wouldn't answer if she knew it was him. Then again, she didn't answer even when she didn't know it was him. He'd been too chicken to leave a voicemail. She would probably just delete it without listening to it fully.

He had tried to speak his piece and lay his cards on the table the night that he saw her and she had...well, run back into her house as if her life depended on it. Maybe it did. Maybe he had done so much damage that she just couldn't handle him being around. And if that was the case, he needed to stay away for her sake and for the baby's. That's what he kept telling himself every time he looked at his cell phone to find he had no new messages or missed calls from her, before glancing thoughtfully at his car keys.

Goddamn it, waiting was going to drive him crazy. He was torn. He wanted to know what she was thinking. He needed to know if his gesture had had any effect on her at all. Would she call him if it had? Maybe she was waiting for him to do something else. But what? Try to plead his case again? Maybe he should call without the blocked number. But, the potential for rejection stopped him. And honestly, this was a conversation they needed to have face to face. She needed to see how sorry he was.

He groaned in frustration and lowered his head to his knees. He put both of his hands in his hair and tugged, interlocking his fingers at the back of his head. He needed a plan. But, it wasn't like there was a tutorial for how to get your wife to forgive you after you accuse her of lying about a pregnancy, then accuse her of being pregnant by another man. Nor was there a sorry card that would cover these things. Hallmark needed to step up their greeting card game for shit like this.

Advice. That's what he needed. Clearly, the lone wolf approach was getting him nowhere. He wouldn't call Kevin...that would be like the blind leading the blind. He lifted his head and his big hand felt around the leather couch until it landed on his cell phone. He sighed and scrolled through his phone, seeking the familiar name.

"Awesome timing," Shawn answered.

"I need help, Shawn," Hunter admitted.

"I wish I had a tape recorder right now. This moment would have made history. But, alas, I'm unprepared."

A wounded expression crossed Hunter's face. "Come on, man. I feel bad enough as it is. I don't know what to do about Stephanie."

"Of course you don't. Which is why you should open the door now. I've got something for you."

Hunter narrowed his eyes and wondered what his friend was playing at. Here he was, humbling himself and requesting help and Shawn was turning it into a great, big joke. His life and the decay of his relationship wasn't a damn laughing matter, in his opinion. But, that didn't stop him from being curious. He got up and swung open the front door, not at all surprised to see Shawn standing there.

Hunter gestured from Shawn's head to his feet. "How is this something supposed to help me?"

Shawn shook his head playfully and handed Hunter a video tape. "Watch this."

"What is it?" He asked, taking the tape from him.

"It's a tape of your marriage. More specifically, the arguments, the bad times."

Hunter waved the tape in the air. "How the hell is that going to help me?"

"Because, man!" Shawn sighed. His friend seriously didn't get relationships. "You're too focused on the present. Fixing this latest and of course, biggest mess. If this was the first time you mistreated her," he shrugged, "maybe she'd take you back easier. But it isn't. There are times when you've been so mean to her for no good reason, that I'm surprised she doesn't shove your water bottle up your ass."

"Have I really been that bad?" He asked quietly.

Shawn shrugged. "Watch the tape, then ask yourself that. I think you'll find you've got lots of apologizing to do."

They shook hands and slapped each other on the back. Hunter nodded his head in farewell and gratitude for what Shawn had given him.

For the next few hours, he saw himself as the world has seen him. As Stephanie had seen him. He saw himself blow his lid dozens of times. Even when he wasn't mad at Stephanie, he took his frustration out on her just because she happened to be there. She was always there. She always wanted to be around him, even when he didn't appreciate or value her company. If he was honest with himself, he was appalled at all the times he had yelled at her. A sick feeling crept into his stomach at all the times he saw her flinch back in fear.

He winced as he watched himself apologize for keeping his hug with Chyna a secret. He knew what was coming next. He shook his head as he watched himself lose his cool and start destroying their dressing room. Stephanie retreated to a corner, screaming at him to stop.

Hunter felt physically ill at what he was watching himself do. At any time, a shard of broken glass could have hit his wife and injured her. Or worse. The fact that none of his temper tantrums had physically harmed her was a miracle. While he had been pissed off when it happened, the cops were right to take him away that night. He was totally out of control.

He watched how he ignored her after his return from injury. Cringed, while he snapped at her on screen. Every single time he was mean to her, her face fell and she looked like she was about to cry. He'd been extremely irritated with her for blabbing on about how she nursed him back to health and was a big part of his success. But, he knew that she'd done it, not to convince the world of her value. It was to convince him. And he couldn't blame her, not when his actions and words during his rehab said that he didn't want her anymore.

Really, he'd had enough. Watching her back away from him and hold her stomach apprehensively after she revealed her pregnancy hurt his heart. She was worried that he'd hurt them. And he'd done exactly that, a week later. He wasn't going to force himself to watch their attempt at renewing their wedding vows. He remembered everything. He had etched the night into his memory, even before he found out she hadn't lied about being pregnant.

And Shawn was right. He had a lot of apologizing to do. There was only one place to do it. He picked up his phone and dialed.

"What?" The other man answered rudely.

Hunter ignored the tone. He had to do this. "I know I'm the last person you want to speak to. But, I've realized just how much of an asshole I've been to Stephanie. I don't want to upset her by just showing up again."

"What's that got to do with me? I'm not going to convince her to take you back."

"Get her to watch Raw this week. Please. She'll listen to you."

The man ran a hand over his face wearily. "Why should I?"

"I've taken her for granted. I've taken my anger out on her...I've distrusted her. Most of what I have done, especially these last few months, tells her that I don't love her. But, I do. There's not a single thing in this world that I love more. And she needs to know that. Even if she doesn't want to be with me anymore. Please, Shane. Just get her to watch the show. I'm begging you."

Shane sighed. The last time he had granted Hunter's request, the man had shown up and upset his sister again. But what Hunter had just said seemed so sincere. And Stephanie put on a brave face and buried her emotions well, but he knew that she was hurting that her family wasn't intact. That Hunter wasn't around for her pregnancy. There was also Kurt Angle to consider. He hadn't yet had time to seriously investigate what was up there. And Stephanie had agreed to stay with him and Marissa in New York beginning tonight. He could easily get her to watch Raw since it was his house. If Stephanie and Hunter got back together...or at least got on good terms again, he could relax a little.

Reluctantly, he answered. "Fine."

"Thanks, Shane."

"Don't thank me. Just make this right," was his reply before he clicked off.

Stamford, Connecticut

Stephanie pressed her lips together as she considered. This wasn't necessarily the best picture of herself and Hunter, but it was her favorite. Shortly after they had gotten married, they had celebrated Christmas together. Hunter had no family that he knew of and Stephanie had cut hers off. Degeneration X had split off to their respective hometowns to spend the holidays with their relatives. So, she and Hunter had booked a cruise to Ensenada, Mexico. On the last night of the cruise, was the Captain's Dinner. Basically, they just had to wear fancy attire and eat gourmet food. The photographer booked for the event approached their table. She had smiled, directly into the camera. But, Hunter had turned his head at the last moment to kiss her on the cheek.

He was grinning like a damn Cheshire cat in the photo. She was still smiling, but a bright red blush stained her cheeks. It was a perfect representation of their marriage at the time. They were giddy and in love. They were also inseparable, which was proven by the fact that their hands were intertwined and resting on the table.

She sighed. While she wanted to go back to that time, she knew that she couldn't truly wish for it. She wasn't pregnant back then. And she wouldn't give her child back for anyone or anything, not even the love of its father. So she'd just have to make do with her memories. She took the picture out of its frame and tucked it into a separate compartment so it wouldn't get ruined.

Why had he stopped loving her like that? What had she done that was so terrible? They hadn't lost their passion for one another. Her swollen abdomen was living proof of that. Despite the fact that they'd drifted apart, they remained committed. No one had cheated or even come close. That left one option: intimacy. He stopped being open with her, started pushing her away. She got mad and just let him, deciding to do her own thing. But, she had hoped their funk would only be temporary and would resolve itself when he returned to the ring. Yet, somehow it had gotten even worse and she was at her wits end on how to fix it. She didn't know how to reach him anymore. Nothing she said touched his heart positively. Everything she said or did got her stonewalled or yelled at. Until she told him she was pregnant.

She shook her head. Thinking about it now wasn't going to help her. She still had more things to pack. Get to safety first, think about this mess, later. Blouses, slacks, jeans, pajamas, tees and shoes went into her bag at a rapid pace. The longer she stayed here, the more uneasy she felt. She'd ignored calls from a blocked number all weekend. It had to be Kurt, but he wasn't leaving any messages. And she was too scared to answer the back-to-back calls. She had no idea what he was up to or what he was capable of, but the fact that he was clearly tracking her was more than bothersome. It was downright terrifying, especially since she was living all alone. She didn't know how long it had taken him to get the information that he already had. She didn't want to know how long it would take him to find out her address. That's if he didn't already have it. She shuddered at the thought that he could be watching her right now.

The fact that when she was exhausted, she apparently paid no attention to her surroundings didn't help her fears. When Hunter had shown up, she had no clue she wasn't alone until he had touched her. Despite the fact that his presence upset her, she was glad it had been him and not Kurt. Hell, she hoped Kurt saw that, so that he'd know to stay the hell away from her because Hunter could show up at any time.

The ringing of her cell phone brought her out of her thoughts. Hesitantly, she picked up the small device that had become that bane of her existence this weekend. She looked at the caller ID and scowled when the readout told her it was a private number. She was getting the hell out of here. Now. If she forgot to pack anything, she'd just buy it in New York. She stuffed the phone into the back pocket of her jeans, ignoring the beep that informed her that she had a missed call. She didn't give one ounce of a damn.

Stephanie secured the latches on the windows in each room making sure her house was as secure as possible. She rolled her suitcase out of the house and down the stairs, with her purse and tote bag on either shoulder. The adrenaline coursing through her veins caused her to haul the bags into her trunk effortlessly. She slammed the trunk shut and pulled open her car door, quickly escaping inside. She started up the engine and let the top down, desperate for some fresh air. The feeling that she was being watched was stifling her and she worried that she'd have a panic attack. She took deep, calming breaths and pulled her phone out, texting Shane that she was on her way.

He confirmed the receipt of her message, telling her to drive safe. As she put the car in gear using her right hand, her left hand still held the phone. It vibrated and without thinking she flipped it open without checking the caller ID, assuming that it was her brother.

"Steph?" Kurt exclaimed on the other line with relief, but his voice was muffled as if he had a bad signal.

Her eyes widened and she pressed the button that would end the call. Against the steering wheel, her fingers trembled and she struggled to keep the tears from falling. It had been stupid and careless to answer the phone without checking to see who it was. Again, the phone began to vibrate and she forced herself to look down. Private number.

"The hell with this," she muttered and backed out of her driveway as fast as she could.

The car shook a little when she ran over her own lawn, but she didn't care. Maybe the grass would grow back before she returned. She put the car in drive and sped off down the street. When the phone continued to vibrate beside her thigh, she decided to turn the damn thing off. Anyone who needed to contact her out of the office – that was welcomed to contact her - knew she would be at Shane's. She wasn't sure where Hunter fell, of those two categories. From what she could tell, he hadn't tried to contact her since he showed up at her house. She wasn't sure how she felt about that. If he was waiting on her to make the next move, he was going to be sorely disappointed. Why would she seek out more emotional punishment? If he did decide to contact her, she wasn't sure what she would do. When he was around, her rationality and sense of self-preservation tended to go out of the window until he said or did something awful to her. So, she'd probably be the typical moth drawn to the damn flame and talk to him.

And Kurt didn't need to contact her, nor was he welcomed to. He was freaking her the hell out.

What did the little creep want from her anyway? What was so damn important that he couldn't just leave it on her voicemail? She refused to speak to him directly. If he meant to cause her harm, she couldn't let him know that she was on to him. That might cause him to be more careful. When she hung up on him, it sounded like one or both of them had a shitty signal. He might not realize she hung up on purpose. Especially, not since he'd called right back and was unable to reach her. She briefly considered filing a restraining order. But there were problems with that. It would alert him that she definitely knew something was up. And it might very well piss him off enough to come after her, if he hadn't planned to already. If that happened, what the hell was she going to do? Throw the piece of paper at him?

No. No, she'd do her best to avoid him until her brother could figure out what the hell was going on.